Prices capped compared to the increases of the last three years, both for beach establishments and for holiday homes, more quality of services offered, a constantly growing trend of international flows: the Apulian tourist season promises to be among the best of the last three years. With one variable, absolutely not negligible: the G7, which will bring in June Puglia the greats of the earth, will be a natural showcase on a global level, with a decisive promotional push and a legacy, once the summit is concluded, on which to build the future of the sector.
The trend
The bridge of April 25th and the imminent one of May 1st are a reliable test but, in general, spring is recording good performances: only the metropolitan city of Bari in the period from 1st to 27th April recorded 155 thousand presences, around 63 thousand tourists arriving in the capital and average stays of two-three nights, typical of the short spring holiday; 31% of travellers, according to the data collected, are Italian, followed by tourists from Poland, France, Bulgaria, Germany, Romania, Hungary, but also Spain and the Netherlands. Furthermore, arrivals from the United States are increasing throughout the regional territory: in Bari alone in April there were 2.81% of the total, over 1,700 people. As regards accommodation, in Bari 48.8% of visitors opted to spend the night in hotel. The remaining 51.2% chose different solutions such as guest houses, B&Bs and short-term rentals. Similar situation in Lecce and in most of the main tourist locations, also in Valle D’Itria and Salento. The conditions for a season with large numbers are all there, apart from some issues to be resolved, especially with regards to the beaches, including expiring concessions, authorisations, assembly and dismantling. In any case, the feared speculative increase in rates will not happen: prices will remain almost the same as last year, with a variable average range ranging from 20 euros per sunbed and Beach umbrella, in places with very large beaches, to 50 euros for the most equipped beaches and with fewer umbrellas. A special case are the ultra-luxury establishments with private rooms and five-star services, where a day at the beach with a sunbed and umbrella can cost up to 100 euros. In short, the choice is there, and for all budgets. «The rates – comments Antonio Capacchione, of the Italian seaside union – are substantially unchanged and are transparent because they have been communicated to Pugliapromozione. Naturally these are differentiated tariff prices for tourist destinations and for companies. Puglia as a whole is competitive compared to other similar regions. We have locations with daily prices from 15 euros for an umbrella, two sunbeds and in some cases even parking or season tickets for the whole season at 700-1000 euros and others where they are even much higher. You cannot have a correct analysis if you only take the peaks as a reference. In this way it is not clear why our Region continues to have a great appeal, especially on the international market. We can say that the north of Puglia, where there are large beaches with over 300 umbrellas, has lower rates, and then there are beaches, in Salento for example, with few umbrellas and different rates; but what matters is the value for money and the professionalism achieved. We need in Italy and Puglia for people to be correctly informed about what is on offer.”
With the Government’s tightening, and thanks to the adoption of the CIS structure identification code by the Puglia Region for a few years already, the issue of prices and unfair competition in the holiday home segment also seems to have partially resolved. There are two strands to distinguish, however: the share of private individuals, property managers, agencies who rent in full compliance with the rules and who work to offer adequate services, and the share, still rampant, of illegal rentals. «If the good morning starts in the morning, and therefore from these weeks starting from Easter – says Massimo Salomone, coordinator of the Puglia tourism technical group of Confindustria – we can undoubtedly say, and hope, that the season will go very well. Furthermore, we cannot overlook that the G7 will be a driving force for the region from an economic, employment and media point of view, both before and during but also after, with a legacy of this important event that will allow the territory to be identified by everyone, in all the world, on the geographical map. The hope is that everyone works honestly without speculation.”
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